Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of calculating a used time of a light source, the method comprising: sensing a level of a driving voltage applied to a power terminal of a light source driving chip; detecting an initial drive time when the level of the driving voltage is substantially equal to a reference level to start driving the light source; detecting a normal drive time when the level of the driving voltage is greater than the reference level to drive the light source; and calculating a used time of the light source by using the initial drive time and the normal drive time, wherein the used time of the light source is calculated when an off voltage is supplied to the light source driving chip, and wherein the off voltage is less than the reference level.
A method for calculating the usage time of a light source involves monitoring the voltage supplied to the light source driver chip. It detects when the voltage reaches a reference level, indicating the light source is starting up (initial drive time). It also detects when the voltage exceeds the reference level, signifying normal operation (normal drive time). The used time of the light source is then calculated using both the initial and normal drive times. This calculation occurs when the voltage supplied to the driver chip is an "off voltage," which is below the reference level.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the normal drive time comprises detecting the normal drive time in a predetermined time interval.
Building upon the method for calculating light source usage time (which involves sensing voltage, detecting initial and normal drive times, and calculating usage), the normal drive time is detected repeatedly within a specific time interval. Instead of just one detection, the system continuously monitors and logs the normal drive time during this interval.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein calculating the used time of the light source comprises subtracting the initial drive time from a normal drive time that is lastly detected.
Using the method that monitors voltage, detects initial and normal drive times (within a predetermined time interval), the calculation of light source usage time is performed by subtracting the initial drive time from the most recently detected normal drive time. This focuses on the latest normal drive time segment to represent the immediately preceding usage.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: storing the normal times detected in the predetermined time interval in a memory, wherein the used time of the light source is calculated using difference values between adjacent normal drive times that are stored in the memory.
Expanding upon the method of calculating light source usage time, the multiple normal drive times detected within the predetermined time interval are stored in memory. The light source's used time is then calculated by finding the differences between consecutive normal drive time values stored in memory. This approach tracks and accounts for small usage periods within the larger interval to derive the overall used time.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: storing the used time of the light source in a memory.
Continuing from the basic method of calculating light source usage time (sensing voltage, detecting initial and normal drive times, and calculating usage), the calculated usage time is stored in a memory location for later retrieval or analysis. This allows for persistent tracking of the light source's usage across multiple power cycles.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: calculating an accumulated used time by adding the used times of the light source in accordance with a driving of the light source which are stored in the memory; and calculating an estimated used time of the light source by subtracting the accumulated used time from a usable time of a light source which is predetermined.
In addition to calculating and storing the used time of the light source in memory, the system calculates an accumulated used time by summing the individual usage times stored in memory each time the light source is driven. Then, it calculates the estimated remaining lifetime of the light source by subtracting the accumulated used time from a predetermined "usable time" for the light source. This provides a prediction of when the light source will need replacement.
7. A method of displaying lifetime of a light source, the method comprising: sensing a level of a driving voltage applied to a power terminal of a light source driving chip; detecting an initial drive time when the level of the driving voltage is substantially equal to a reference level to start driving the light source; detecting a normal drive time when the level of the driving voltage is greater than the reference level to drive the light source; calculating a used time of the light source by using the initial drive time and the normal drive time; calculating an accumulated used time and an estimated used time of the light source based on a used time of the light source and a usable time of a light source which is predetermined; and displaying the accumulated used time and the estimated used time of the light source, wherein the used time of the light source is calculated when an off voltage is supplied to the light source driving chip, wherein the off voltage is less than the reference level.
A method for displaying the remaining lifetime of a light source includes monitoring the voltage to the driver chip, detecting initial and normal drive times, and calculating a used time. It then calculates the accumulated used time and the estimated remaining lifetime of the light source based on the used time and a pre-set usable time for the light source. Finally, it displays both the accumulated used time and the estimated remaining lifetime on a display. This calculation of light source used time occurs when an off voltage (below the reference level) is supplied to the driver chip.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the accumulated used time is calculated by adding the used times of the light source which are stored in the memory.
In the method of displaying light source lifetime, the accumulated used time is calculated by adding all the individual used times that have been stored in memory. This represents the total operational time of the light source.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the estimated used time is calculated by subtracting the accumulated used time from a usable time of a light source which is predetermined.
Using the lifetime display method, the estimated remaining lifetime is calculated by subtracting the accumulated used time from a pre-defined usable time for the light source. This difference indicates the predicted remaining operational duration.
10. A display apparatus comprising: a display panel displaying an image; a light source part comprising a light source providing the display panel with lights; a light source driving part comprising a boost part outputting a light source driving voltage for driving the light source and a light source driving chip controlling the boost part; and a used time calculation part configured for sensing a level of a driving voltage applied to a power terminal of the light source driving chip, and for detecting an initial drive time when the level of the driving voltage is substantially equal to a reference level to start driving the light source and a normal drive time when the level of the driving voltage is greater than the reference level to drive the light source, and calculating a used time of the light source by using the initial drive time and the normal drive time, wherein the used time calculation part calculates the used time of the light source when an off voltage is supplied to the light source driving chip, wherein the off voltage is less than the reference level.
A display device includes a display panel, a light source that provides illumination, a light source driver circuit containing a boost converter and a driver chip, and a usage time calculation module. This module monitors the voltage to the driver chip, detects initial and normal drive times, and calculates a used time. This used time calculation occurs when an off voltage (below the reference level) is applied to the driver chip.
11. The display apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the used time calculation part comprises: a voltage sensing part sensing the driving voltage applied to the power terminal; a control part detecting the initial drive time and the normal drive time based on the driving voltage sensed at the voltage sensing part; a calculation part calculating a used time of the light source by using the initial drive time and the normal drive time; and a memory storing the used times of the light source in accordance with a driving of the light source.
The display apparatus that estimates light source usage time incorporates a voltage sensor, a control module, a calculation module, and a memory. The voltage sensor monitors the voltage to the driver chip. The control module identifies initial and normal drive times based on this voltage. The calculation module calculates the used time. Finally, the memory stores the used times for each light source operation.
12. The display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control part detects the normal drive time in a predetermined time interval.
In the display apparatus with light source usage time estimation, the control module detects the normal drive time repeatedly within a defined time interval, allowing for a more granular calculation of usage.
13. The display apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the calculation part calculates a difference between a normal drive time that is lastly detected and the initial drive time to calculate the used time of the light source.
In the display apparatus, the calculation module computes the usage time by subtracting the initial drive time from the most recently detected normal drive time.
14. The display apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the memory stores the normal drive times detected in the predetermined time interval, and the calculation part calculates the used time of the light source by using difference values between adjacent normal drive times that are stored in the memory.
Continuing with the display device, the memory stores all the normal drive times captured during the pre-set time interval. The calculation part computes the overall usage time by using the differences between adjacent normal drive time values retrieved from the memory.
15. The display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the calculation part calculates an accumulated used time of the light source by adding the used times of the light source that are stored in the memory, and calculates an estimated used time of the light source by using the accumulated used time.
Expanding upon the display apparatus design, the calculation module computes an accumulated used time by adding all the individual used times stored in memory, and further computes an estimated remaining lifetime based on this accumulated value.
16. The display apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the control part displays the accumulated used time and the estimated used time on the display panel in response to a lifetime information request signal.
In the display apparatus, the control module displays the accumulated used time and the estimated remaining lifetime on the display panel when it receives a specific request signal related to lifetime information.
Unknown
November 11, 2014
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